First European Vacation

European Vacation-
Well as you all may know, I have had lots of time off over the past year and a half since Scott and I got married, but hard worker he is, Scott has not taken a real vacation since our trip to Australia a year and a half ago. Our goal was to take a vacation shortly after we arrived in Europe. As we are central to so many countries we had lots of options. We went back and forth between Spain, Northern France, Ireland, but were told those places were way too hot and crowded in August, our planned trip time. So then Scott said how about a cruise. He has cruised many times before and always found it enjoyable. I was always a bit unsure about going on a cruise, but I thought hey why not. We found a great one that would go around the Mediterranean and make stops in France, Italy and Spain. Seemed like a great option and best of all on Saturday the boat would be sailing, so we wouldn’t miss out on any sights on Shabbos. The cruise left from Rome, so we took a really early flight from Amsterdam and arrived in Rome first thing in the am. So crazy that it only took us two hours to get from Amsterdam to Rome; this is when it hits you wow I live in Europe. As soon as we arrived we took a train from the airport to the Port. We arrived at the port and checked in and then got on the ship. Crazy how large it was, not only does it hold over 3000 people, with multiple dining rooms, shops, restaurants, but also had an indoor ice skating rink. We found our room and it was actually spacious. The bathroom left a bit to be desired size wise, but worked for our needs. We went to an upper outside deck to see the ship leave port; Scott was excited as we got to see containers and cranes at the shipyard. We then checked out the rest of the boat and went to sleep to be refreshed for the 7 days ahead of us. Our first stop was in Genoa, Italy, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. We took a sightseeing tour around the city and then went to check out the Aquarium and Maritime Museum. Both were very interesting. It was neat that in the Maritime Museum they had a whole exhibit on Ellis Island, a place I find fascinating and have been to a few times. Then we went back to the boat and got ready for dinner. It is interesting how on the boat there are formal nights and people get all dressed up. Seriously men are in tuxes and women in fancy dresses. Was a kick to dress up and walk around the boat and enjoy all the evening festivities. This first night we went to the first show put on by the ship’s singers and dancers. Was ok, not much to write home about. Then our second port stop was Toulon, France. We learned that from Toulon, one could take a train to Marseilles, which has great tourist sights and kosher food. So this is what we decided to do. We got to Marseilles and took a tour around the city. Was beautiful driving along the coastline. Then they took you up into the mountains to see a church on a hill. Was so windy, thought we would blow off, but we got some impressive city pictures from high up. Then we went off in search of kosher food and boy did we find some. We decided on an Asian place called Super Sushi. Scott had a cheeseburger (soy cheese of course) and I had some yummy meat dish. Food was great. Then we checked out the Judaica stores, where we bought some mezuzahs and I got a pocket siddur in Hebrew and some French. Then we went to the kosher market and bought some colored pasta. Seems like a basic find, but haven’t yet found this kosher so far. Then we headed back to the ship for another night of fun activities. Tonight was a show called Ice Dancing. Was amazing to see all these ice skaters perform a dance show with lifts and jumps at sea while the ship was rocking a bit. I think this was one of my favorite parts of the ship itself. Then Wednesday was Barcelona. We had almost a full day there. We started on the hop on Hop off bus to tour the city. We started at some Jewish sights, but wasn’t much to see as the Jews were expelled so long ago. Then we attempted to go to the Picasso museum, but line was way too long, so we will save that for the next time. We checked out the Contemporary Art Museum because Scott likes stuff like this, but was absolutely horrible. I do not recommend. Then we headed over to this church called Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece. It is a church that has been under construction for over 100 years. Was very interesting, but I still am confused why takes so long to build a church, but that is just me. Then we got back on the Hop on Hop off bus to go around the rest of the city. Saw some lovely sights. We tried our best to leave enough time to get back on the ship, but we missed one bus by 1 minute because we were stuck across the street waiting to cross and then ended up on the last bus back to the ship. We were lucky because there was tons of traffic back to the ship and if we had not made that last shuttle, we may have been stuck in Barcelona. That night went to another show on the ship, but again wasn’t so great. Just very cheesy. Thursday we were still in Spain, stopping at Palma De Mallorca. Is a lovely port stop. Again churches to see and we went to a museum which had some Dali pictures, which Scott enjoyed. I was happy because this spot is known for its pearls, and my nice husband bought me some lovely pearl jewelry. We made sure to also stop at the local Hard Rock Café to get a pin as Scott collects them. We also got one in Barcelona. That night we arranged to attend a mystery theater dinner. Wasn’t so great, but they must have done a good job as Scott and I both guessed incorrectly the killer. Then Friday for our last stop we were back in Italy in Cagliari, Sardinia. Problem with this stop was we didn’t arrive until noon and that is the beginning of Siesta which lasts from noon-4, so almost everything was closed while we were at this port. We took a quick tour around and then decided to go back to sit by the pool, which was quite enjoyable. That night we met a lovely couple from Fairlawn, NJ. Of course their kids went to Yavneh, so they knew Scott’s mom very well. I told them I was jealous they got to go back to NJ to all the good kosher places and they were like we are jealous you get to stay in Europe. Actually I think they are right. The kosher food will always be there, but this is once in a lifetime chance. Saturday we just relaxed and caught up on our reading. Saturday night they had a Mardi Gras farewell parade, but again very lame. Then Sunday got up early and departed the ship. Was an amazing experience and I highly recommend cruising for people of all ages. One night at dinner we sat next to a woman celebrating her 90 birthday and there were many children as well. On Sunday our plan was to leave the ship early and spend the day in Rome. The day started out crazy because first we were dropped at the wrong terminal so had to walk to another one. Then waited on line for a while to drop off our bags only to be told it was too early ( Scott had called to check this beforehand and he was told no problem dropping baggage off early) and then we had to go back to where we came from to drop off our bags in a storage place. Then we got to the train station and had to wait in line for almost a half hour with 1 person ahead of us, while some couple was having a discussion with the ticket man. He spent almost a half hour with this one couple and then even started smoking in his booth. Was the craziest thing I have ever seen. There seemed to even be a supervisor walking around watching the whole thing and he did nothing. We made our train by like 1 minute. We were exhausted and was only 10:00 am. Finally we made it to Rome and started at the Coliseum. Scott wanted to see again, but when we saw how long the line was and since we both had already been there we took pictures outside and continued our tour around the city. Next stop was the big synagogue in the Jewish Ghetto in Rome. I had already been there a few years before. Shout out to great traveling partners and friends, Dalia and Sharon. Was just as interesting the second time around. Then we stopped for lunch in a kosher meat place around the block from the shul. Was so yummy, we shared a meat platter for two. Was like heaven on a plate. Then we walked around and went to the top of some building for some spectacular sights of the City. Though was crazy hot walking around all day, so we were pooped by the end. We haven’t experienced heat like this at all this summer in The Hague, so you forget what it is like. Then we headed to the airport to head home. Funny on the plane the girl sitting next to me was an upper west sider from 98th street. I told her to come back and visit us next time she travels our way. Small world. So that ended our first European vacation while being expats. Now just settling back in and getting ready for our first guest from home. So excited!!!! Lisa arrives on Friday and I can’t wait.